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College Applications: What Helps You Stand Out

April 26, 2015

College is daunting, sometimes seemingly scary, especially since no one really tends to help in high school. Teachers try to help focus you on what is similar in their class and what you’ll face in college (especially in those frustrating and difficult AP classes), but one thing that tends to get left out is the way to actually get into college: the application process. This is a completely new concept to many eager juniors and stressed seniors. Suddenly, the fate of you getting into the dream college comes down to the electronic or piece of paper that can cost anywhere from $10 to $90 just to get a simple “yes” or “no” if the college welcomes them. Of the 1,073 ranked schools in the nation that submitted data to US News on a study about application prices, they discovered the average cost is around $41 for the application. (DISCLAIMER: Typically, the schools on the coasts and Ivy League schools are on the higher end, and these prices are for traditional applications, as in the paper kind. Online applications are often not as costly, if they cost anything at all).

While price can be a factor in where to apply, what to put on the application itself is the number one thing that people forget to worry about. There are many different parts of an application. As Yale recommends:

"Every applicant brings something unique to the admissions committee table. Perhaps one application stands out because of sparkling recommendations, while another presents outstanding extracurricular talent; maybe your personality shines through a powerful written voice, or maybe your keen mathematical mind packs more punch. Our goal is to assemble a diverse, well-rounded freshman class, and that means admitting exceptional individuals of all types. You may find this answer unsatisfying, but we assure you that it is true: the part of the application that carries the most weight is different from applicant to applicant." (Retrieved from: http://admissions.yale.edu/advice-putting-together-your-application)

Regardless of the application, the areas that are consistently there are these five categories: Essays, Extracurriculars, Interviews, Recommendations, Transcripts, and Testing. Each of these is very important and shows a little bit about you. The three that you should really focus on will be discussed in this article. For further help on the two categories not covered, check websites, such as the one provide from Yale, and other colleges you may be interested in. Be prepared to do your own research, though! One of the biggest ways to let the person know about you is the essay.

Essays are dependent on you and your creative ability. Don’t freak out when you begin to write, and don’t overthink the topic or your writing! While it is important to make a good impression on the reader, it is important that they get to know you. You have to choose a topic that is close to you. Voice in the essay really comes out when you are passionate about the topic, and it lets them know a little bit more about you. The topic itself does not have to be truly unique. If you want to talk about something like how your mother taught you everything you know about life, then do so! Use your imagination and personal experience to make the essay unique. The most important part of it all is what happens after the essay. EDIT! You have to proofread and fix the paper. Nothing bugs an editor more than using the wrong “your” or “their” in an essay. Be cautious of “it’s”, “its”, and “its’” as well. “Affect” and “effect” also tend to trick young writers. You have been forewarned about common mistakes in writing.

Extracurriculars can really set you apart from other applicants. These involve anything other than the academic area of your transcript. Volunteering, school clubs, athletics, church groups, etc., all can be used in this category to enhance the application. Your leadership position in the club and other activities help to impress the board. A long involvement in the few clubs is also more impressive than a list of 40 short activities. For you to dedicate many years and days to some activities really shows how they developed you. Also, participation in nationally recognized clubs such as NHS (National Honor Society), Debate and Forensics, and DECA help with the first impression. These all can get you to the top of the list of applicants.

Transcripts and testing: the big focus of high school. Transcripts are your grades from freshman to senior year. They include the classes you took and the overall semester grade you received. You will need to take the SAT and ACT, depending on the college you are looking at. While the grades themselves are important factors, a few colleges have gone on record saying they no longer believe GPAs are the primary way to think of college readiness. The University of Virginia has ultimately decided to make the classes taken the important factor. It comes down to the willingness to push yourself and the challenges you tried to take. In other words, if you can take AP United States History over American History, to most colleges, that is more impressive than never taking an AP class. That being said, you DO NOT have to take AP classes to be successful in high school or to get into college and do well. It’s just known that if you really want an impressive transcript, colleges are more likely to pick the student that pushes himself to be a better student over one who didn’t. Try taking the regular class before taking the AP version, if you don’t think you’ll do well. At least you’ll start with background knowledge on the topic.

The final two things are interviews and recommendations. Interviews aren’t required, but if given, take them. There's nothing like talking to the person face-to-face. It will help them get to know you more. Finally, the recommendations. These come from teachers who you should have a close connection with and will help to talk about your development and advancement as you mature. Assume that you can go to a teacher that saw you go from a D in the class to a B over the teacher whom with you always had As. The progress is more important in the recommendations than the person.

Be cautious when making your resume not to overdo it. Try not to duplicate or repeat yourself when you present the elements of the application. The worst thing you can do is have too much in the application. Try not to have more than three recommendations; two is ideal. Do what you feel best represents you, but don’t be nervous and send in more than you’d be willing to read. Put it in your own perspective or ask your parents if you don’t know if you have too much or too little. This is a big deal, and college is important. There are some things that you have to do on your own (especially when it comes to college), but this is something anyone could help you with.

College can seem scary but knowing the ins and outs can help you be more confident in the process. This is your application, not the school's, not your parents'. This means you have to take responsibility for it and start planning early. Don’t miss the deadlines! Be respectful and timely, especially when you need help from others. Don’t ask a teacher during midterms or finals to write you a letter, and don’t wait for the day before the application is due. Think ahead, follow these tips, and be yourself. Before you know it, you’ll have a letter of acceptance.